Letters to the Editor: Battle of Gettysburg began 150 years ago, fireworks sales should be allowed, and more

July 1, 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, which was fought on July 1, 2 and 3, 1863.

More than 23,000 men on each side became casualties during the fighting of Americans against Americans, by far the highest losses in one battle of the entire war.

To put losses into perspective, more than 620,000 soldiers died during the Civil War, exceeding losses of American soldiers in World War I, World War II and Vietnam put together, which totaled about 580,000.

The Battle of Gettysburg featured what has been described as “The High-Water Mark of the Confederacy”and also as “The Turning Point of the War,” although the war itself dragged on for almost two more years, ending in April, 1865. Had the South won this war, slavery would have continued to exist and the country could have been divided into two separate nations. How that situation might have affected our present-day lives could be an interesting speculation. I have noticed that many people are totally unaware of events like this, and others of significance in our American history.

I feel that love of our country should include knowledge of its history, so we could better appreciate the value of The Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave which we hold so dear.

– CHARLES H. FRUEH, Longmeadow

State should allow sale of fireworks

Hasn’t the time come for Massachusetts to step into the 21st century and follow the lead of 46 other states to make some level of consumer fireworks legal for sale and use in the state?

Those states have recognized two factors related to consumer fireworks: first and foremost, the products are safer today than they have ever been before, and secondly, the sale of consumer fireworks can raise some badly needed revenue for the government.

People love to watch major league sports, but they also love to play sandlot sports. The same holds true with fireworks. People love to watch professional displays, but they also love to shoot their own backyard fireworks, too.

Massachusetts legislators have the power to change the fireworks laws and bring Massachusetts to parity with 46 other states that permit the sale and use of some level of consumer fireworks. This is long overdue.

Since 1994, when the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory first began testing the consumer fireworks at the factory level in China for compliance with U.S. manufacturing and performance standards, while imports of fireworks have doubled from 117 million pounds in 1994 to 234.1 million pounds in 2011, the number of fireworks related injuries as reported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has dropped over 23 percent from 12,500 to 9,600 over the same period.

There are only four states in the U.S. that prohibit all forms of consumer fireworks, including Massachusetts. Take Massachusetts out of the consumer fireworks dark ages and into the modern era.

Please enjoy the Independence Day holiday with your family and celebrate safely.

– BILL WEIMER, vice president,
Phantom Fireworks, Youngstown, Ohio

Fireworks displays dangerous at home

Why do Massachusetts citizens try to purchase fireworks when it is illegal? There are public displays far more dramatic than any they can operate.

When I was growing up, on July 5 we would read about children and adults who had hands blown off and other terrible accidents. Fireworks are dangerous.

Are these people trying to prove that they are free to do whatever they want and government cannot tell them what to do? Use your brains. Watch displays on television or attend public ones; let that be sufficient.

- ZELMA LAVIN, Longmeadow

State agencies need auditing

Before any new taxes are added and tolls restored at Massachusetts Turnpike exits 1-6, let’s have our state Auditor Susan Bump audit the transportation departments and agencies.

Let’s clean up waste and inefficiencies before asking for more money from the taxpayers.